Means and method of calculating monetary value



Mayls, 1925.

v 1,538,250 W. J. LOVE, JR

imANs 'AND METHOD oF CALGQ'LA'TING MONETARY VALUE oF lELAPsm TIME 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April '7, Y1922 ATTORNEY May i9, 1925. 1538;-256

W. J. LOVELJR MEANS AND METHOD OF CALCULATING MONETARY VALUE OF ELAPSKED TIME Filed April 7, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Mmmm@ MTwTl-ss VET Patented May 19, 1925.

UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM a'. Love, Jn., or PIQUA, OHIO.

MEANS AND METHOD 0F CALCULATING MONETARY VALUE OF ELAPSED TIME.

Application filed April 7,

To o?! 2li/"mm, 'it vzmy/ concern.'

lie `it known that 1 lViLLm M J. Lori-i, Jr., a citizen ot the United States, residing;` atY Piqua, in the count-y of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use- 'lul Improvements in Means and Methods of Calculating' Monetary Value of Elapsed Time, oi.' which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to computing and calculating` devices and more particularly to means for Calibrating time andcost sheets, by coniputing time in units of money value.

The present invention contemplates a meuf-urine or sealing apparatus by which periods ot elapsed time as indicated upon time cards 'tor cost accountin,e` records by proportionately spaced imprints, punchinpgs, indentations or other markings may be at once translated into yemiivalent units of monetary value without mathematical calculation.

It is quite common in industrial and commercial institutions p to employ. individual time cards, upon which the daily pe "iod or periods of employment are recorded by the employee punching a time recorder clock in which the vcard has been inserted, at ther time ot' arrival and departure ot such eniployee. which indicates upon the time card, ,such times of operation as In and Out lletwecn the time of such registrations, the recorder clock has automatically changed the stop or luide means by which the time relatively located rin relation with the printing devi(Y whereby the spacing` between successive i nistrations will uniformly agree with the period ot elapsed time. That is to say, the spacing' between such registrations'will be proijiortionate to the time period. ln other systems of time and cost accounting, the e1n], loyee is required to register upon his time card,vtl1e time oli coml mencement and finish of each successive assisrnment or joh The time recorder clock inthe .meantime automatically,changed the card locatingstop in relation 'with the printing l'nechanism; the spacingl oil these succes* sive registrations will rbe {noportionate to the intervi-ming interval of time. Inasmuch as the time recorder mechanisms commonly employed malte the successive registrations in ligurcs representing hours and minutes, the present practice is tor the cost account- 1922. Serial NG. 550,359.

ant or time keeper to ascertain the extent ot the intervening or elapsed time period by subtracting' the hours and minutes indicated by these successive registrations and then by nu-iltiplying the hours and fractions thereof, oi theelapsed time period by the rate of pay per hour, to ascertain the employees pay, or the labor cost of a particular operation. Such mathematical calculations not only consume la great deal of time, but theamounts are not readily nor accurately ascertained by persons unskilled in such mathematical computations, especially when both the hours and minutes and the rate ot pay involve odd numbers, or fractions. Many of the time :recorder devices nonv in use are adapted to imprint, mark, punch or otherwise indicate upon individual time Cards, which tlie'operator inserts in kthe recorder apparatus before actuating the same. The degree to which the card .is insertable r its relative location With kthe printer means of the recorder device is determined by automatically movable stops, actuatedby the clock Work 1neclian1sm. TheV present invention contemplates means for which such time cards may be vised and the time periods reinesented thereon by successive .imprints or other indications be at once turned into equivalent units of money value without mathematical calculation and at any one of a number oit different rates of pay per hour or per day. l Y

The object olE the present invention is to simplify andk minimize the mode of computing elapsed time in units ot money value, and to provide a simple, cheap and economical apparatus tor performing such computi tions, which will not only be accurate in its determination, but may be easily and quickly operated to ascertain money values ol diiferent periods ol. time at different rates of pay by persons unskilled by mathematical calculations. l

A further object of the invention is to provide a scale divided into units of money valueit'or ascertniningr the value of elapsed periods of time, particularly for use in cost accountingI and pay-roll computation.

A- further object of the invention is to provide an improved 'form oit employees time card on which to record in sequence the period ot employinent` with the commencement and tinih o'l succcsive employment periods,

work assignments, or jobs, relatively spaced in proportion to the intervening period oi" elapsed time.

lilith the above primary and other incidental objects in view as Will more fully appear in the specification, the invention consists ot the features ot construction, the parts and combinations thereof and the mode ot operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set 'forth in the claims.

llc'teri' fj to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective vien" ot the calihrating or computing' dei-rice tor ascertaining the money value ot el l it'erio( i ot time at diftercnt rate 1 ot pay, et ditiicrentemplojv'ecs time card. "fiar 2 is a tra rse Sectional vien' ot' 'the scaling or calibraring device shown in 3 is a Ylace vier: ot an emcard, showing thereon the nn- 'lung` successive ivorlt assign- Fs. lli 4f is an enlarged detail n. r the scales or blades trom the .paling (.erice. Lilie. parts are indicated by similar characters et reference throughout the 'eral views. ln the accompanying drawing, vherein is shown the preterrci, but obviously not the only form ot embodiment ot' the invention, l is an ividnal time card or record sheet, upon which are recorded, the successive periods ot employment, or the starting time and time ot completion. lVhile this time card may be ot any suitable type or term, and may be ot only one day capacity, in the present instance the card is shown divided into seven double columns, one double column 'for each day ot the Weel; and designated by the initial letters O' the The first column ot each double column division is devoted to record ot time during the morning hour, or morning Work period, ivhile the second column ot' cach double column period, pertains to the atternoon period. .fit the top ot the card is provided any suitible identification. data snch as the employeels name and an access or record number, his rate ot pay, and such other information as may be convenient or uset'ul to the time keeper or accountant. rlhe time recorder device is automatically adjusted to print successively in spaced relation in the respective columns, the intermediate spacing between successive imprints being proportionate to the period oi2 elapsed time. The time recorder, gage or guide stops Within which the card is inserted b v-the employee, preparatory to imilirintng thereon, are adjusted daily to insure the printing or nmrking in the proper column according to the day ot the week.

vrl`he time card or ticket l is preferably though not nece;r rily provided adjacent to the top with a transv line 2. representing the starting time and adjacent to the bottom ot the card, it is provided with a second line 3, representing the quitting time. These lines may be diderently spaced according to the established hours ot employment. As is the usual established rule in industrial and commercial institutions, no allowance is made for that portion ot' the recorded period prior to the established starting time. Thus if the starting time is seven ocl cla a. m., and the employee registers In77 at sin forty-tive a. m., the time is computed from the line 2, representing` the starting time, rather than `from the recorded time. The same thing is true relative to the line 3, indicating the quitting time. Any Out registrations below this line are not considered nor computed, unless the employee is Working on an overtime arrangement, in which case the overtime is `computed trom such line 3. lllhen Working upon a piece Work basis, or under conditions Where labor costs are to be accurately computed, the employee will insert his time card l, in the time recorder apparatus, and mark or imprint thereon the time of starting and finish o'l each job, or Work assignment. The spacings ot such recorded indications, imprints, indentations, punchings, or other marl-zings, representing the beginnino` and completion ot Work periods, Whetlier pertaining to individual jobs or Work assignments, or otherwise7 being proportioned to and in exact agreeA ment With the relative periods ot elapsed time, the cost accountant may compute the time intervals in hours and minutes, and then by multiplication, ascertain the amount due the employee for such period or the cost ot any Work, assignment, or job in accordance with the rate paid per hour, indicated at the topof the employees time card.

Instead ot going through the necessariv mathen'iatical computations to ascertain first, the hours and minutes of elapsed time, and then the monetary value ot such period at the prescribed rate per hour, the present '1n-- vention is intended to indicate at once to one who may be unskilled in such mathe matica-l calculations, the monetary value ol` the different periods ot elapsed time, appearing upon the time card or ticket.

To this end there is provided tor each different hourly rate et pay or rate ol' pay per day as the case may be, a ditlerent scale 4f (Fig. l).

Such scales are calibrated in different units ot monetary value, or rather in units ot dillerenty monetary value extended upon the scale, in accordance with the relative spacing of the recorded imprints or registrations upon the time card. lilach o'l these s 'ales '-i is divided into divisions or de rees, having extent equivalent to the hours and minutes ot the spacing employed by the time recorder apparatus, and imprinted upon the lli) llf

lill) shown upon this dotted line scale, dividedA into live minute interif'als. rlhe dilerent scales il, are all divided in units or divisions ot equal extent, However, instead ot representing these units upon the scales 4, tivo minute intervals, or twelftlis ot au hour,

they are represented in monetary value at different prescribed rates oft pay.

Assuming for convenienceV oi easy computation, that the rate of pay is six-ty cents per hour, then each such division or degree upon the corresponding scale ll, will represent live cents, instead oit five minutes. It the rate of pay is thirty cents per hour, the degrees or divisions oit the graduated scale 4, pertaining; to this rate of pay will represent two and one haltc cents each, If the rate ot pay is but lifteen cents per hour, then each div sion or unit ot measurement upon the scale l coriespondinzgl to this rate of pay will' rep resent one and a quarter cent, the other rates ot pay as for instance,l seventeen and a. halt cents, tiventytwo and three quarters cents, nineteen and one quarter cent, etc., are represented in like manner, the lineal extent ot the units or divisions off measinem'ent be-` ing exactly the same, oneach ot the scales, but the figures representing the monetary values, thereof differing inl accordance ywith proportionate part of the rate of pay per hour.

By measuring' the spacingn or distance between the in'iprints upon the time cards l, with the (.orresponding` monetary value scale at the etnlivalent rate per hour, it is quite ea'sy to ascertain at once, the total ot pay or 'the labor cost for such period ol eniployment, Without pertorming the usual mathematical calculations of subtraction to find thehours and minutes of elapsedv time,

and then multiply the hours and minutes by the rate of pay to find the monetary value thereof'. Thus in Fig. 2 by measuringthe spacing, or distance between the time imprint 7.10 in the first division oi the double 'crol-v rnnn under T, representing Tuesday a. in., and the imprint 1.1.35 in the sainel colunrn representing the completion of the Work as sigi'nnent, byy applying thereto the scale 4, corresponding to the rate of pay of itln'rty cents per hou-r, it is at once asccrtaiiiired that the employee is lentitled to pay ot one flolla'r and th'i'rtif'stu'o and a halt cents for this period. This is done by applyiiiff- ),l to the time card the scale @t having calibrations and de grecs thereot, marked in` -tractional parts and multiples of thirty centsper hour. By afpplyrng the zero point or starti-no' point et such scale te the recorded imp ot ll a. nr., it will be found that the s? le nailing` or monetary value ot' the division talling' exactly opposite the imprint llvvill be one dollar and thirty-tivo and 'one halt cents; It instead of bein-g employed at a rate ofthirty cent-s per hour, this employee viorlred at seventeen and one halt cents per hour, it is only necessary to apply to the time sheet or card l, the particular scale l, correspending` to seventeen and one halt cents per hour; If the zero or .starting point on the l' at the 7.10 registration, the

scale is appliet total monetary value toi-'such period will be foundiopposite the succeeding registration 11.35, Without the necessity ot subtracting to ascertain the number of lio-urs and minutes and then multiplying by seventeen and one half, to obtain the amount of pay due. It is only necessary to apply the scale and immediately kread off the total of pay due the employee tor the recorded Work period, or the labor cost ot' suoli operation, Likewise where the Work is charged to a customer at a prescribed rate ot pay greater than that ydue the employee as is usual in indus trial establishments, this charge an'iount muy likewise be obtained by applying` the corresponding scale to the time card indication, Which scale may differ tromthat ot the rate of pay scale of they operatoigbut be divided. in identical units or degrees, but bearing monetary values at a higher rate.

While the time clerk or accountant might have at hand a number of independent or separate scales, each having thereon deerees or divisions of measurement ot equal extent corresponding* to the time intervals ot' the record card, but bearingl monetary values of such time intervals at different pay per hour, and by selectingl the proper scale or monetary value indicator., he can asxfeitain the value ot different jobs or imei is oft different operators, working lor mllerent rates of pay per hour, the scales have been shown in Fig'. l, conveniently arranged to economize time, in selection ol' the proper scale and facilita-te the calibration ot difterent operators time card at ditli'erent rates of pay per hour, or per day as the ease may be.

In this multiple scale compntiirt,r device, illustrated in Fig, l, the monetary or value scales Lt, are arranged in parallel spaced relation Within a supporting` traine or lions ing' 6. The scales l exten-ding longgitudinally in parallel relation Within the trame or housing?v 6 inclined laterally in overlap ping rspaced relation as shown more pare ticu-larly in the sectional view Fig. 2. There is thus `provided `between the succeeding scales 4l, intervening spaces, or slots 7, within which one side margin of the time card l may be inserted to bring the desired daily record column in juxtaposition to the graduated edge of the selected scale it will be understood that the different scales making up this multiple Calibrating device, have thereon divisions or degrees olf equal extent as betere mentioned, but each carry different series` of value ligures indicative of monetary 7alues oit these divisions or degrees or measurements at ditlierentrates ot pay per hour or per day. To facilitate the reading ot the value igures thereon, the margi if edges of the laterally inclined scales d: are deflected or lient laterally to prevent the graduated portion in a more nearly horizontal position, as shown at- 8, in l? 2.

lilith the multiple calibrating device shown in Fig. l before him, the accountant will insert the time card l beneath the selectcd scale corresponding to the hourly rate ot pay oli' the employee whose time card is being viseed, until the particular daily record to be computed is brought into taposition to the edge o the correspondi L cale. For instance, in lig. l, the time card has been shown inserted to such an extent as to bring the "Wednesday afternoon record column closely to the edge of the selected scale d. in this position, the excess portion et the ard to the right oit the column being vised projects within Vthe space 7, intermediate the succeeding scales l, as is shown m Fig. 2. Having brought the particular column to be computed into proximity to the corresponding value scale al, the accountant then slides the card longitudinally between the scales, until the starting time imprint upon the card is brought into registry with the starting point or Zero mark upon the scale.. lly 'lien observing the money value'tigures ot the scale diif'ision in registry with the imprint olf the quitting time or completion ot the wort: or a; gnmentF as it appears upon the card, the value ot such elapsed time period is instantly obtained. l'l the, cost el several jobs or work assignment during any half day work period is to be ascertained the first period is measured as be'lore described. Then the card shifted longitudinally upwardly, bringing the beginning time ol' they second work assignment into registry with the starting pointJ or zero point upon the scale, and the completion time o't such assignment will be found opposite the equivalent money value indication upon the scale Yfor the elapsed time period. By shifting the card upward further, the successive Work assignments or jobs may be computed2 by bringing the starting time of each assignment or job into registry with the starting or Zero point upon the scale and observing the monetary value indication on the scale opposite the time of completion. It is to be noted in Fig, l that the graduation and values upon the scales have their beginning at a mid length point, leaving the upper por tions of the scales blank. This positioning of the graduations and monetary values upon the scales is for the purpose of enabling the time card l to be shifted upwardly within the trame or housing G, a distance sui iicicnt to bring the Final or last Work assignment or job7 of the day into position to be computed with its beginning time in registry with the zero mark upon the seal The blank extremities at the upper ends ol the scales thus aliiords sufficient clearance tor the time cards, when adjusted to this extreme position.

ns a matter ot convenience although not by any means a necessity, a scale 10 of hours and minutes may be placed upon the trame G ot the computing device, such scale being located in registry with the division or degrees of the monetary Value scales il.

Alfter taking oil the time or money value tor successive assignments or jobs, which it may be desired to keep separately7 the accountant or booklreeper can then prove these computations or get the total oi' the operator at the prescribed wage per hour, by again bringing the initial starting point indication upon the time card, whether the same be the established line Q, for the days work, or the recorded time subsequent thereto, into registry with the zero point or starting point upon the monetary aluc scale, and then reading the amount opposite the last indication or opposite the line 3, representing the quiting time in the event that the last indication is beyond such line, disregarding intermediate indications. This will not only serve to prove jobs or labor costs computations for individual worl; assignments, but will also gire at once the amount oi pay due the operator.

In the use olf this system7 it is very ronvonient and a simple matter to draw the time card in any particular column un ink line as at Ill, to indicate some starting or quitting time as when thel 'factory or commercial institution has been closed because ot a part holiday or due to some breakdown oit' power transmission or dismissal ot the working force for a part of the ordinary Work period for any reason. Such special line ll, drawn upon theI time card may then be used for computing purposes in the same manner as lines 2 and 3 are utilized as the. starting or quitting time, no allowance being madey for registrations In or cOut7 before or after the starting or quitting time so indicated.

The particular time recorder mechanism ior imprinting starting and quitting time upon the time card l in spaced relation proportionate to the elapsed time period forms ill) no part oi the present invention. There are, however', at :the present time upon the marlret, several devices which perform this imprintingl operation quite successfully. It is only necessary to add thereto, automati- -ally moving` stops or gages, travelino in unison with the clock 'work fmovement oia the time recording apparatus, whereby fthe'operatior is permitted to insert his time card to a greater or less extent When Li-naking the registration. Suitable gages or stops to be manually set from day to day may be pro rvided in conjunction with such imprinting apparatus to insure the imprint being placed in the proper column corresponding to the day ot the Week, and .morning or afternoon as the case may be. It Will be understood that inasmuch as such time recorder apparatus forms no part of the present invention, it is mentioned here merely for illustrative purposes and With no intent of limiting or restricting Vthe present invention or system to the particular means and mechanism described. for imprinting the time, but the system and calibrating means herein described may be employed With any suitable type of apparatus which Will imprint, mark, indent or otherwise register successive time indications in spaced relation proportionate to the period of elapsed time. Moreover, the particular form of time card herein shown is not essential to the successful operation of the invention, but any vsuitable time sheet, Whether arranged in multiple columns or a single column or otherwise, Whereinthe time imprint registrations occ-ur in spaced rela* tion proportionate to the elapsed time period may be computed and the monetary value of such period instantaneously ascertained as hereind-escribed.'

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device ot the character described possessing` the particular features lof advantage before enun'iera ted as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible ofV modiication in its form, proportions, detailconstruction and arrai'lgement ot parts Without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing,r any of its ad mntapjes.

lVhilc in order to comply With the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural. features,A

it to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but

that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form of sev eral modes ot' putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any ot its forms or modiiications Within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In an elapsed time calculator, a series periods ot scale members, relatively lined in relation with each other and extending; longitudinally in spaced parallel and transversely inclined relation, the outer edge portions ot the members having` nionctary scales thereon terminaftnw in spaced relation with the extremities oit the members, and a record sheet havingtime records to be measured by said scales in units of monetary value, the sheet being;I insertible in the space between adiacentscale members, and movable to and tro in relation therewith to register different portions oil the sheet with the zero indications yott the scales.

2. In an elapsed time calculator, a support, a series of scale n'iembers extending longitudinally of the support and arranged in spaced parallel relation and transversely inclined with relation to the support, the outer edge portions of the members having` scales thereon and beine laterally detlected so as to present the scales in a plane more nearly approaching` the plane ot the support, and a record sheet having time records to be measured by said scales in units of monetary value, the sheet beine"y insertible in the space between adjacent scale members.

3. In an elapsed time calculator, a supporting frame, a series of scale members mounted therein. in spaced parallel and transversely -inclined relation, the outer edges of the scale members having` series of graduations thereon, beginning` at a mid length point Wherebv the scale extends beyond the initial. graduation of the series permitting a record sheet having' time indications thereon to be shifted both lone-itudinally and transversely intermediate adiacent scales to present different indications upon the record sheet in. registry With the initial gradita/tions ot the series.

kl. In an elapsed time calculator for determinino' money value equivalents ot time represented by proportionately spaced indications upon a time record sheet.r

a series of lineal measuring scales graduated in units of monetary values at different rates per time unit., a mounting for the scales in which the scales are interconnected in parallel spaced relation, and between which the record sheetis insertablc and slidable longitudinally and transversely in relation with the scales.'the scales being?, mounted to permit the adjustnient ot the record sheet beyond the Zero points et the ,frraduations a distance approximately equivalent to the lineal range of time indicationsfupon the sheet to permit the time indications on ditferent portions of the sheet to be registered With the zero graduation ot any selected scale.

5. In an elapsed time calculator, a unitary slotted structure comprising' a series oi" parallel measuringl scales arranged in spaced relation to afford intermediate slots through lll) .vheh record sheets inzty he introduced interinedizife :my two adjacent Scales, 'lor Slidingl); adjustable movement both longitudinally and transversely in relation with the 5 scales, said scales being' provided with :L

Series of grnduations adjacent to the intervening' slots and O'E less length than the seules, nngrudueted portions of which eX- end beyond the Zero point ol the series of 10 gradnations to permit indications adjacent either extremity ol' the record sheei to he registered with the zero graduation of the Scale Without reversal ol" the sheet.

In testimony whereof, Ihm'e hereunto set my hand this 1st day ot Anril A. D. I5

J. IJOVE, JH. lVitnesses W, D. ANSPACH, G. C. HELMIG. 

